In recent years, Congressional approval ratings and legislative output have been at historic lows, yet the incumbent re-election rate has remained at its typically high level. What factors contribute to these outcomes and explain these apparent disparities? Why does Congress seem to be so dysfunctional? How can Congress continue to do "business as usual" in the face of widespread dissatisfaction?
In this podcast, we will tackle these questions by examining the structure, organization, powers, and operations of Congress, the Congressional election system, and the legislative and budget processes, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of Congressional politicking, the obstacles to passing legislation, the persistence of protracted budget battles, and the rise in performative politics as part of Congressional practice.
Disapproval, Dysfunction, and Congressional Decline:
In this final episode, we consider the health of American democracy and ponder the future of Congress and the American experiment. We highlight Congress's worst problems and examine various proposals to reform this key institution.
10 Jun 2023
Episode 10. Battle Royale
Congress versus The Supreme Court:
In this episode, we look at the the tug-of-war between Congress and SCOTUS, examining how the power of the Supreme Court has been used to limit Congressional authority and analyzing the ways that important Supreme Court rulings have impacted Congressional elections, the makeup of Congress, and the present day conflicts within the institution.
9 Jun 2023
Episode 9. Washington's Nightmare
Parties and Partisanship in Congress:
In this episode, we look at the evolution of parties in America, the internal battle among party leaders and opposing factions, and the impact of parties and partisan battles on the operation of Congress.
9 Jun 2023
Episode 8. I'm Just a Bill
How a Bill Really Becomes a Law (But Usually Doesn’t):
In this episode, we look at what it takes for a major piece of legislation to get across the finish line and examine some bills that have and haven't made it.
7 Jun 2023
Episode 7. Boring But Important, Part 2
The Budget Process:
This episode describes the way the federal budget is written and examines how that process has evolved over the past half century as a result of conflicts, crises, and reform efforts
6 Jun 2023
Episode 6. Elbow Twisting
Lobbying, Logrolling, and Legislative Success:
In this episode, we look at the way that lobbyists and members of Congress attempt to shape or derail emerging legislation and examine the procedural reforms that impact the power of lobbyists and shape the way members of Congress can engage in horse trading and logrolling.
5 Jun 2023
Episode 5. Herding Cats
Leadership in the Legislative Process:
In this episode, we examine the way the leadership teams function in the House and Senate, how they attempt to shepherd bills to passage, and the ways that other groups and individuals push back against the leadership teams' control over the legislative process.
4 Jun 2023
Episode 4. Surfing the Wave
Transformative Elections and Internal Reform:
In this episode, we look at the history of Congressional reform efforts undertaken since the 1970s, analyzing how the changes brought about by post-Watergate wave elections impacted the way Congress operates today.
3 Jun 2023
Episode 3. Boring But Important
The Rules Package:
Each house of Congress is a self-organizing, self-regulating body. In this episode, we explore the rules package, the outline each chamber uses to determine how the legislative process will occur. This first installment of "Boring But Important" details some of the insider minutia that dictates the hidden workings of the (potentially) most powerful democratic body in the country.
2 Jun 2023
Episode 2. Opening Act
The Circus of Congressional Elections:
In this episode, we look at what it takes to win a seat in Congress, compare House and Senate elections, and look into the sources of Fenno's Paradox.
1 Jun 2023
Episode 1. The Two Ring Circus
Bicameralism and American Politics:
In this first episode, we describe the differences between the House and Senate and explain what these differences mean for the way Congress functions (or doesn't).
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